Tech fraternity that used PISD party buses is suspended

By KEVIN LEWIS

Published 1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Tech fraternity that used PISD party buses is suspended

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

LUBBOCK - The Texas Tech fraternity that last year used Plainview ISD-marked buses for "party buses" has been suspended by the university for five years following a September incident involving the theft of lumber from a Lubbock construction site.

According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas Tech officials announced Beta Theta Phi will effectively disband after Lubbock police arrested 15 of its members on Sept. 6 when they were pulled over in a pickup hauling stolen wood planks and plywood sheets.

All were later charged with theft and organized crime, though the status of their charges was unclear Tuesday.

A monthlong internal investigation by Tech's Student Judicial Programs found the 138-member fraternity had violated several regulations outlined in the university's student code of conduct, including hazing, said Tech spokesman Chris Cook. The university's in-house measures, however, came two days after the fraternity's national office permanently closed its 40-year-old Tech chapter, citing three years of "cultural deterioration."

The grievances against Beta Theta Phi included renting two school buses from First Student, the private company that provides bus service for Plainview ISD. The buses, with Plainview ISD markings on the sides, were used to cruise from party to party in Lubbock with students reportedly drinking alcohol on board.

The chapter has also been embroiled in a slew of other accusations over the last few years, including repeated "alcohol violations, drug use, theft, hazing activities and conduct unbecoming," according to a statement.

(Contact Kevin Lewis at 806-296-1353 or kwlewis@hearstnp.com. Follow him on Facebook.)